Volume 18 Issue 6 - June 2003

NORTH CAROLINA REPORT

"The wicked walk on every side, when the vilest men are exalted." (Psalm 12:8)

Just returned from a rather interesting mission’s trip from North Carolina. Flip Benham, National Director of Operation Rescue/Operation Save America, moved there about a year ago. Thus Charlotte, North Carolina has been selected as the chosen site for this year’s 2003 national event. The dates are July 12-20, 2003 . Excitement is in the air and a genuine expectation is growing throughout America for this particular gathering of the saints to storm the gates of hell. One entire hotel is booked with another about halfway reserved. There has even been a decent response to the vision and mission from local churches and pastors as well. Flip is pessimistically optimistic.

My purpose for going in at this early date was to start the ball rolling to rehearse our S.O.S. Titanic play so we can perform it during one of the rally nights at the national event. We were also working on putting together a Kingdom Leadership Institute from June 22nd-28th to help train young people to become the next generation of leaders a time like this demands.

Just before I left to go to NC, Flip informed me that he had a little surprise for me on Saturday, May 3rd. Not thinking much about the surprise, imagine my shock when the surprise entailed a few gallant Christians, about 7 to be exact, were going to confront hordes of sodomites at what was euphemistically called "Charlotte Pride."

To the unsuspecting passer-by, one would have thought this gay and lesbian extravaganza was a Christian outdoor service. The name of the Lord was invoked, Scriptures quoted, both Old and New Testament, a same-sex commitment ceremony was performed by a Baptist Pastorette, and sweet gospel hymns were sung. It appears the homosexual agenda is taking its cue from the abortion industry in this regard. It is so much easier to further evil, masked in the Christian religion. The Scriptures warn of this angel of light syndrome and the wolf in sheep’s clothing strategy (2 Corinthians 11:14, Matthew 7:15).

We prayed before we left to engage in this event from hell that we would go in a good spirit and faithfully represent our Lord, and His message. It was, however, still heart wrenching and disturbing to witness this abject blasphemy. It is one thing to be a homosexual; it is another thing to demand its acceptance, but it is another realm entirely to invoke the name of the Lord over it. It is simply not healthy to place God’s stamp of approval on that which He has declared to be an abomination (Leviticus 18:22).

The homosexual agenda is gaining approval, acceptance, and legitimacy under the guise of love, compassion, and tolerance. Our culture, corporate America, law enforcement, the media, and some aspects of the church have already bowed the knee and kissed its image. They are "in" and those who oppose them are "out." This was confirmed when the police came to guard them from the preaching of God’s word. As far as most of the police were concerned, we were the bad guys that needed to be warned and the sodomites were the good guys in need of protection.

Biblically and historically, that is when our Lord has responded in great wrath upon sodomites and upon the cities and nations that condoned this perverted behavior. I don’t think it was a mere happenstance that "Charlotte Pride," along with the National Day of Prayer led by a homosexual "pastor" in Washington DC just happened to coincide with the worst day of tornadoes to strike America in our history. 80 tornadoes touched down and several people were killed throughout America.

The Scriptures plainly teach us what the point of contact is that sparks God’s judgment upon sodomy. It is when that wicked sin touches the sacred. In Sodom and Gomorrah, we must remember that the Lord displayed incredible mercy to the inhabitants of these cities before He moved upon them in fiery wrath. There was a war and the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled in the heat of battle and all their goods were whisked away, along with Lot and his family. The Lord raised up Abraham and 318 men to pursue after them. They attacked and were completely successful in rescuing Lot, his family, the people of that area, and all their goods. Abraham restored it all without taking a reward, lest men should boast that the king of Sodom had made Abraham rich (Genesis 14).

Obviously, the Lord was kind to Sodom and Gomorrah in this instance. Even though, they still paraded their sin of sodomy before Him, He delivered them and restored them back to their land. Unfortunately, the goodness of God did not lead them to repentance (Romans 2:4). They, like America today, probably viewed God’s delay in judgment as approval of their wicked behavior. Nothing could be further from the truth.

God’s patience came to an end when the cries of the sins of Sodom came before Him. He sent His angels to investigate and to prepare Lot and his family to leave. The sin of sodomy was so pervasive that Lot insisted strongly that the angels find refuge under the protection of his home. The men, both young and old, inflamed with lust, surrounded the house and demanded the men in Lot’s house to come out so they could know them carnally. This was the flashpoint. It was this perverted demand that ignited God’s pent up wrath.

The sin of sodomy was not content to just defile the natural state of man, it now reached to touch and desecrate the sacred. This signaled the beginning of the end for the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah. Strange weather, indeed, was their lot. The skies rained down fire and brimstone upon the unsuspecting citizens of Perversionville and Abominationtown and they were reduced to ashes.

This same Biblical pattern can also be found in the book of Judges. Judges 19 chronicles in painful detail some of the most despicable acts of human depravity contained in Holy Writ. It centers on a Levite priest and his concubine on their way to the House of the Lord. They stop off to lodge in Gibeah, which was the dwelling place of the Benjamites. Little did this priest know that a large segment of the Benjamites had become sodomites.

An old man saw them in the open square and took pity on them. He decided to be responsible to meet their needs for lodging, food, and drink for the night. Like Lot before him, he knew the Levite and his concubine were not safe to spend the night in the open square. The Bible says, "As they were enjoying themselves, suddenly certain men of the city, perverted men, surrounded the house and beat on the door. They spoke to the master of the house, the old man, saying, ‘Bring out the man who came to your house, that we may know him carnally!’" (Judges 19:22) Sounds strangely familiar, doesn’t it? Apparently, the tribe of Benjamin became Biblically illiterate and forgot what happened to Sodom and Gomorrah.

The old man pleaded with them not to act so wickedly. In fact, he offered his virgin daughter and the Levite’s concubine, much like Lot offered his daughters in Sodom, to appease their lust. This, along with Lot, is one of the most bizarre and offensive offers recorded in the sacred text. Perhaps, they knew women would not appeal to the sodomites. Regardless, the old man begged them to not commit this vileness against the man in his house.

The sodomites would not heed, so the man took his concubine and brought her out to them. They proceeded to abuse her through the entire night. The next day, the priests found her dead. He picked her up and brought her home. He then cut her body into twelve pieces, limb by limb and sent them to the tribes of Israel. The tribes were obviously horrified and stated, "No such deed has been done or seen from the day that the children of Israel came up from the land of Egypt until this day. Consider it, confer, and speak up!" (Judges 19:30)

This unusual telegram produced the desired effect. All of Israel gathered together to confront this abomination. A war ensued, which turned into a bloody ordeal that cost many lives. The end result was the tribe of Benjamin was nearly obliterated. Only six hundred men remained to carry on their names and tribe. It was this devastation that produced the inferiority complex in the tribe of Benjamin, which came to light when Saul was called to be the first king of Israel. Notice Saul’s response when Samuel told him it was upon him that the desire of all Israel had come, "Am I not a Benjamite, of the smallest of the tribes of Israel, and my family the least of all the families of the tribe of Benjamin? Why then do you speak like this to me?" (1 Samuel 9:20,21)

Obviously, sodomy had become an accepted practice amongst the tribe of Benjamin. No one knows how long they co-existed with this horrid condition. What is clear, however, is God’s judgment didn’t fall on them, until the sodomites demanded the Levite to satisfy their beastly lust. The sin of sodomy attempted to touch the sacred and the tribe of Benjamin was decimated. Is America in danger?

Next month, God willing, we will investigate the false teachings of the homosexual "church." Flip, his sons, some Christian friends and I visited a synagogue of Satan called the Metropolitan Community Church in Charlotte. The wolf in sheep’s clothing, otherwise known as a "pastor," attempted to give a "Biblical" apologetic to defend homosexualtiy. To his credit, he did let us speak to challenge their heresies. Prayerfully, you will receive a full report next month concerning this illuminating meeting.

LOOK WHAT THE LORD HAS DONE

"For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world-our faith." (1 John 5:4)

Yesterday, while working at my home office, I received one of the most joyous phone calls in the history of fighting the battle for the souls of men, the lives of children, and for the future of our nation. It was the Waco Tribune, our local newspaper in Waco, soliciting a comment from me concerning Planned Parenthood's announced defeat in our public library. That's right, the unholy alliance between Planned Parenthood, the city of Waco, and our public library has been officially severed. They will no longer be allowed to seduce vulnerable children and promote their sexually immoral materials through our library system.

Needless to say, my mouth dropped to the floor, tears came to my eyes, and my lips were filled with praise to our mighty King for granting us this wonderful victory. I told the reporter, "We're just rejoicing in the Lord Jesus Christ for this great victory." Thankfully, they kept that specific quote in the paper to bring glory, honor, and praise to the One who is worthy.

This victory, after a long ordeal, fulfills two stated goals concerning this injustice. Number one, we knew we had to put the trumpet to our mouths and sound the alarm throughout the nation. Other cities needed to be warned in order to defend their communities and not fall prey to Planned Parenthood's attempt to slither in their libraries. Thanks to United States Justice Foundation, Liberty Legal Institute, Life Dynamics, WorldNetdaily, Global News, Operation Rescue/Operation Save America, and Steve Wetzel of Missionaries to the Unborn, the warning went forth. Thus far, we have not heard of another attempt to infiltrate other public libraries by Planned Parenthood. First mission accomplished and we give God the glory!

Our second goal was to obviously undo the damage here in Waco. As of yesterday, I'm here to report our second mission has now been accomplished as well. I'll leave you with this quote by G.K. Chesterton to encourage your hearts that God still honors and grants victory to His Davids of today who take on the Goliaths of this world. "Unless a man becomes the enemy of evil, he will not even become its slave, but rather its champion. God Himself will not help us to ignore evil but only to defy and to defeat it!" Rise up Church, be encouraged, and do not give silent consent to evil to become its champion. Our Lord will not allow His people to ignore the great evil of the day, but empower us to only defy and defeat it! I hope this article affirms this great truth for you.

Suit splits Planned Parenthood, city endeavor

Planned Parenthood of Central Texas has severed its ties with the Waco-McLennan County Library System, a decision its director said was forced by a lawsuit.

The family planning agency was sued in federal court in April by three Waco women who alleged it had violated their constitutional rights by denying them entry into the agency's buildings at an October event. The event was meant to showcase Planned Parenthood's Audre Rapoport Library, which had become a part of the city's library system a few months earlier.

Supporters of the Waco women who complained their rights had been violated said they welcomed the news.

The suit seeks unspecified damages, a judicial declaration that the women's constitutional rights were violated and an injunction to stop Planned Parenthood from blocking anti-abortion protestors from its library at 1121 Ross Ave. The city of Waco and Planned Parenthood's executive director, Pam Smallwood, are also named as defendants in the suit.

Smallwood released a statement Tuesday announcing the agency's decision. Although she refused to answer most questions because of the lawsuit, she acknowledged that the agency's actions were in response to the legal action.

"We regret the necessity to end our successful collaboration with the Waco Library System but have determined that the inherent limitations involved in collaborating with the city created insurmountable barriers to maintaining security in our facilities," Smallwood said in the statement.

"Although we support an individual's right to exercise their first amendment freedom of speech, we must reserve the right to exclude individuals from our library in order that our security not be undermined.

"Given the level of violence perpetrated on women's health care providers in the United States, Planned Parenthood of Central Texas simply cannot risk placing our patients and staff in jeopardy...Although this decision ends the computerized connection between Planned Parenthood of Central Texas and the Waco-McLennan County Library, Planned Parenthood has for decades maintained the Audre Rapoport Library with excellent health education materials and will continue to do so for the community."

The announcement culminates almost a year's worth of controversy surrounding Planned Parenthood and the library system. It began last summer when the two entities announced they had joined forces through a memorandum of agreement that included the city.

Under the agreement, the library system allowed Planned Parenthood to use its cataloging system in exchange for access to educational materials contained in the agency's library. Those materials include books, magazines, videos and pamphlets related to human sexuality and health.

The agreement also specified that Planned Parenthood library patrons could check out materials from any of the city's four library locations by requesting that they be delivered to Planned Parenthood. Similarly, card holders could return materials at the agency, regardless of the library location from which they had been checked out.

As soon as news of the agreement became public, local anti-abortion leaders spoke out against it, saying the arrangement made Planned Parenthood a de facto branch of the library system. They asked city leaders to end the agreement, arguing it was illegal for a private entity to become part of a library system run by the city. They also said it was unfair to let one non-profit organization include materials in the library system and not another.

The debate intensified after the October event. Smallwood has said the event was an invitation-only affair meant to give people the chance to see the agency library and its materials. Abortion opponents, however, have said the event was advertised as an open house. And when Planned Parenthood officials refused to allow known abortion opponents into the agency library, the latter group complained their rights had been violated.

Kelly Shackelford, chief counsel for Plano-based Liberty Legal Institute, the organization that helped the women file the lawsuit, said late Tuesday he had not been informed of Planned Parenthood's decision. He said it was a surprise but was welcome news.

Asked whether his clients - Waco residents Donna Jernigan, Gloria Orozco and Camille Hinojosa - would now drop the suit, Shackelford said it was likely if Planned Parenthood admits its partnership with the library system was unconstitutional and agrees not to undertake such an effort again.

"Our goal was to make sure if the government is involved in something that people are not discriminated against," Shackelford said. "Obviously we'll look at it and see what they are actually going to do. But it won't change the fact that a violation occurred."

Rusty Thomas, who heads an anti-abortion organization called Elijah Ministries and is one of the most vocal anti-abortion activists in the greater Waco area, also was pleased by the news Tuesday. He filed his own suit against Planned Parenthood, two of its officials and the city of Waco in federal court in March.

Thomas' suit, filed with the help of a California-based organization called the United States Justice Foundation, makes many of the same points as the other suit, namely that Planned Parenthood discriminated against people based on their abortion views. Thomas said he will consult with his attorney before deciding whether to pursue the suit, which also requests unspecified damages.

"We're just rejoicing in the Lord Jesus Christ for this great victory," Thomas said.

Jackie Dodson, interim director for the library system, said Tuesday she was "kind of sorry" the relationship with Planned Parenthood was ending. She refused to comment further, however, referring questions to city of Waco attorney Art Pertile. Pertile could not be reached for comment Tuesday afternoon.

LOOK WHAT THE LORD IS DOING

Please Pray! Planned Parenthood’s Reign of Terror Could End Soon In Texas!

Last week the Lord drove out Planned Parenthood from our public library. No sooner than we gave public praise to our Great God and King for this wonderful victory, He is answering even more prayers. In today's paper, it was announced that our state legislators are considering defunding every family planning organization that performs abortions. If it passes, there is a strong possibility that the holocaust in Waco and in other cities in Texas will come to a grinding halt. Planned Parenthood will have to decide either to end abortion and continue to receive funding or lose the funding to continue their murderous rampage. They will no longer be able to do both, if this rider passes.

In light of this critical moment, which has brought us ever so close to the ultimate Christian/Pro-life victory in our city, we are calling for an emergency prayer meeting at our Church. We will be meeting on Wednesday, May 21st, at 7 pm at Church on the Rock, located at 4720 N. 19th St. If at all possible, please try to attend and let us pray this rider through to protect little precious boys and girls waiting to be born in their mother's wombs. If you’re out of our state or city please pray as well. Let us pray they will pass this bill, defund abortion, end this murderous nightmare once and for all, and liberate our city from the sin of shedding innocent blood in Jesus' Holy Name!

VICTORY IN JESUS!!!

“My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior…For He who is mighty has done great things for me and holy is His name…He has shown strength with His arm; He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. He has put down the mighty from their thrones, and exalted the lowly.” (Luke 1:46,49,51,52)

The Budget Bill passed with the Rider 11 attached! This, in effect, defunds Planned Parenthood abortion mills in Texas. They can no longer receive our tax money to slay the innocent in the wombs of their mothers. They now have to make an impossible choice, money or abortion. They can no longer have both.

We asked you to pray and I’m here to report that our prayers were heard from on high. He who is mighty has done a mighty thing indeed and Holy is His name! He has put down the mighty Planned Parenthood and exalted the lowliest amongst us, the precious unborn baby. I received an e-mail from a good friend today that announced this good tiding of great joy for every Christian/Pro-lifer in the state of Texas.

There is one draw back, however, it won’t take place until September of 2004. There was a compromise, typical of politics, that delayed the implementation, but victory is in sight. Waco will soon be delivered from the sin of shedding innocent blood. The holocaust in this city will go the way of every other tyrannical murderous regime in the history of man. We give our Lord all the praise, the glory, and the adoration for showing Himself strong on the behalf of His people who labored, prayed, and cried many prayers to see this day come. Thank you, my precious Lord!!!

The following article comes from Planned Parenthood’s own website that verifies the truth. You’re getting it straight from the horse’s mouth. Read it and rejoice, you that love the Lord, His Kingdom and His unborn children.

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The budget Conference Committee passed Rider 11, by a vote of 6-4, on May 22. The vote was strictly along party lines, with the Republicans voting in favor of the Rider and the Democrats voting against the Rider. The Rider now becomes part of the 2004-2005 state budget.

Thank you for all the calls, faxes and e-mails that were sent to members of the Committee about this Rider!

As passed by the Committee, Rider 11 of the Health and Human Services budget, denies family planning funds to "...entities that perform elective abortion procedures or that contract with or provide funds to individuals or entities for the performance of elective abortion procedures."

Rider 11 will deny funding for family planning services to the 5 Planned Parenthood affiliates in Texas who also provide abortions. These affiliates operate a total of 53 women's health clinics throughout Texas. In North Texas, Rider 11 could displace approximately 26,000 women and men who receive health care from one of our 12 subsidized clinics. In many cases, these patients will find that alternative providers are over-crowded and unable to schedule appointments for several months or, worse, that there are no other providers in their community.

No government funding is currently used to provide abortion services. Since 1995, Texas law has explicitly prohibited health care providers from using public funds to pay for the direct or indirect costs of providing abortion, and organizations like Planned Parenthood are audited by the Texas Department of Health (TDH) to ensure compliance.

Rider 11 goes into effect on September 1, 2004 (instead of 2003). The Committee agreed to a "compromise" that delays implementation of the rider for one year. This gives TDH a year to find other family planning providers in the effected regions. Planned Parenthood is the main family planning provider in Texas and a recent TDH impact statement said there are not enough alternative providers.

Planned Parenthood offered a compromise that would require an independent financial audit, paid for by Planned Parenthood, to ensure all costs for family planning clinics and abortion clinics were kept separate. Unfortunately, Republican members of the Committee did not agree to the compromise.

A PLEA FOR HELP

"Nevertheless, you have done well that you shared in my distress." (Philippians 4:14)

This has been a strange year indeed. Typically, by Christmas, I’m normally scheduled full from January to about August. Not so this year. Our local church, Church on the Rock, fell upon hard financial times and as a result, cut our support in half beginning last December. Financially, it has been a major burden to continue to fight the battle, while the enemy was strangling our supply line. Yet in the midst of this struggle, the Lord mercifully has granted us some of the greatest victories our ministry has ever witnessed. In this we rejoice, knowing it is not about us and our needs, but about the Lord and His work being accomplished in the earth.

As it stands right now, we are $2,000.00 in debt and we are heading to North Carolina for about a month and a half to prepare the way of the Lord in Charlotte. Somehow, we need to get out of debt, pay our bills at home, and still provide for the family on the road. As the Apostle Paul declared, situations like this can cause distress. If at all possible, would you seek the Lord about relieving some of the financial burden we are carrying?

We desperately need significant one time gifts now and if you are a church or family, would you consider placing us on your mission budget? It is the monthly support that helps the most. Most of our work is on the streets and in our culture and as a result of not preaching in churches, the monthy support, typically through this newsletter, has become our Kingdom supply line. As you know, we hardly ever mention finances and neither do we beg as a ministry. This is our need, if you can help, we would certainly appreciate it. The Lord richly bless you!

IN KING JESUS' SERVICE,

Rusty, Liz, and the Thomas Nation

E-mail: elijahmin@ifriendly.com  
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